2007 Stratus engine and transmission line-up

97 3.5 Intrepid · #1 10-12-2005, 08:38 PM

I have heard that the up-coming Stratus/Sebring will have the new "World Engine" 2.4 with Dual-VVT that will produce 170 hp and 165 ft-lbs of torque. Does anybody know about the V6 option? The new platform it will be built on is the same platform that the Mitsubishi Galant is built on; therefore, it should have a larger engine compartment than the current Stratus/Sebring. I hope that it will offer at least the 3.5 V6 or the rumored 4.0 V6. I think Dodge needs to offer a car that competes with the more performance-focused mid-sized Japanese rivals like the Nissan Altima, Mazda 6 (turbo version), and the Galant as well. I can't imagine that they will carry over the 2.7 as the top engine, maybe a middle choice but not the top. If they do this and do not offer at least Dual-VVT to it to boost the low end range of the engine as well as improve the hp numbers on the 2.7, I think they will loose a lot of potiential sales. Look at what offering class-breaking hp and torque has done to the LX cars (300, Magnum, Charger).

I have also heard rumors about a 6 speed version (62-TE) of the 4 speed (41-TE) in vehicles that offer this transmission. I know the replacement of the 2 verses the 1 after the first digit means that it will be made for higher levels of torque and horsepower by being built stronger. What do you think?

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brandoncrone · #2 10-13-2005, 04:03 AM

As far as I know all of what you said is true. The world engine is available in 3 versions, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4. The 62TE transmission is set to debut in 2006 as a 2007 model and is flashable to a 82TE. I've seen the 62TE and its a monster compared to the 41TE. Mostly all the same with another pan on the front side of the trans and another planetary gear set on the transfershaft along with another set of clutch plates.

97 3.5 Intrepid · #3 10-13-2005, 05:05 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: brandoncrone

As far as I know all of what you said is true. The world engine is available in 3 versions, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4. The 62TE transmission is set to debut in 2006 as a 2007 model and is flashable to a 82TE. I've seen the 62TE and its a monster compared to the 41TE. Mostly all the same with another pan on the front side of the trans and another planetary gear set on the transfershaft along with another set of clutch plates.

An 82TE? Are you saying it will have 8 gear ratios? On the 62TE, could you explain what the "planetary gear" does? Pardon my ignorance on this. Do you know if this is going to offer a taller gear for the top overdrive?

brandoncrone · #4 10-13-2005, 11:19 AM

Yes that is correct an 8 speed automatic, I believe that will be used for the diesel engines that are coming around 2008 - 2009. Just about everything will be available with a diesel, ie minivans, the Calibur (Neon replacement in January), Grand Cherokee, Liberty in NY and CA, maybe the Stratus, LX cars and the Pacifica (new face lift coming in 2006 also). The best way to explain it....Basically the planetary gearset consists of a sun gear, 3 - 6 planetary gears and an annulus gear. The pitch of the teeth determines the gear ratio. Its laid out like this. The plent gears are held inside a metal cage and can rotate freely on their own axis. The sun gear sits in the center of the planet gears (they rotate around the outside of the sun gear) and the annulus gear rotates around the outside of the sun gear. Now depending on which of the 3 components is held or driven will give up either reverse, overdrive or underdrive. If 2 components are driven the output will be direct drive (aka usually this is 3rd gear). If the annulus gear is held and the sun geaer is driven you have reverse. If the planetary gear is driven you will have overdrive and if the sun is driven you will have underdrive. If that doesn't confuse you I can dredge up more stuff!

97 3.5 Intrepid · #5 10-13-2005, 10:14 PM

So, I'm assuming that this means that it would receive a acceleration increase and fuel economy. Right? I look forward to seeing the LX platform getting this transmission. I would like to see the LX get a better transmission than that fuel guzzling 5-speed. A .83 overdrive is a joke. They were able to match the fuel economy that the 3.5L got with the 42RLE but they had to change the axel ratio from a 3.64 to a 2.87 to make up for the difference between the two transmission overdrives .69 and .83. Such a waste.

brandoncrone · #6 10-14-2005, 01:20 AM

The 'TE' series transmissions are for front wheel drive. The NAG (Mercedes 5 speed) is staying as far as I know. Mind you now, you say that it has a high final drive ratio, but the transmission is 15 years old! It originally came out when the E class started showing up in the early 90's. Fuel economy wasn't as much of an issue then as it is now. Everyone thinks that the MB trans is great, but it is built from leftover parts that are ancient in todays terms. This is what happens when parts are mixed and matched from one manufacturer to another. In reality Chrysler desgined a body, the rolling chassis is straight off of the MB assembly line, also which is abuot 10 years old. Its an E class rolling chassis, same as the rear of a Pacifica.

tenntech · #7 10-14-2005, 01:39 AM

The new caliber with a world engine will have a continuously variable transmission with unlimited gear ratios and will run like a snowmobile or a polaris atv. It is belt driven and will not shift gears, but will gradually gain speed, maintaining constant rpm. It will also have a new green fluid.

97 3.5 Intrepid · #8 10-17-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: brandoncrone

The 'TE' series transmissions are for front wheel drive. The NAG (Mercedes 5 speed) is staying as far as I know. Mind you now, you say that it has a high final drive ratio, but the transmission is 15 years old! It originally came out when the E class started showing up in the early 90's. Fuel economy wasn't as much of an issue then as it is now. Everyone thinks that the MB trans is great, but it is built from leftover parts that are ancient in todays terms. This is what happens when parts are mixed and matched from one manufacturer to another. In reality Chrysler desgined a body, the rolling chassis is straight off of the MB assembly line, also which is abuot 10 years old. Its an E class rolling chassis, same as the rear of a Pacifica.

Yes the TEs are used in front-wheel drive cars; however, the 42RLE is just a rear wheel drive version of the 42LE that was used in the LH platform. The 42RLE is currently used in the LX platform. My logic on having this transmission being associated with the LX platform is I have heard that the 4-speeds are going to replaced soon and this design might base a replacement for the 42RLE. I think the 42LE was partly based off of the 41TE, just beefed up and a different engine placement. I was also responding to your earilier response about the possible 8-speed transmission.

The real reason why people think the MB transmission is so great is the automotive press and the price that MB charges for their cars. The automotive press makes such a big deal about anything and everything that is expensive and made by foreign manufactures. If my memory serves me correctly, the 4-speeds are just a couple years older than the MB 5-speed. Some weren't electronic until 1996, but the 4-speeds are basically the same, at least as far as the gear ratios are concerned. The primary reason why the transmission was not designed for fuel economy was that this transmission was designed to be used in luxury cars (where fuel economy is not as big an issue) which are more focused on performance than fuel economy, not in the more average everyday car. I think that they should have used the 545RFE because it is much newer and more focused on fuel economy. The question is why they did not do this or at least ajust the overdrive to help with the fuel economy. MB's new 7-speed is not much better in gear ratio choices .73-.72 for top overdrive is still just a joke for a transmission that has that many ratios.

Anyway, getting back to my original question. Does any body know about the other engines that will be offered besides the new "World Engine" 4 cylinder.